Highway marking system and device for applying same



Jan. 11, 1944. H BEEBE 2,338,894

HIGHWAY MARKING SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING SAME Filed May 17, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 grvuezwto'n L UOJAN HBEEBE H. BEEBE 2,338,894

HIGHWAY MARKING SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING SAME Jan. 11, 1944.

Filed May 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M E Wm .M fi U M "wk/W7 mm w Jan. 11, 1944. L, H. B EBE 2,338,894

HIGHWAY MARKING SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING SAME Filed May 1'7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 114) W L UOJAN H BEEBE Patented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIGHWAY MARKING SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING SAME Claims.

The present invention relates generally to an improved highway marking system, and to a device for economically and efiiciently marking the highway with a novel dividing line or trafiic directing stripe which, without unnecessarily restricting traffic movement, more effectively reduces the hazards of driving than any stripe heretofore employed for this purpose. As is well known the presently used stripes divide the road into traflic lanes and limit traffic to travel in the right hand lane.

Most motorists have desired, while driving on a highway in which trams moves in both directions, to pass a slower moving vehicle and have been prevented by just such a center line stripe. The need for such stripes is most acute on blind corners or horizontal curves, and on hills or vertical curves where a driver cannot See sufliciently far ahead to be sure that he will not encounter an oncoming vehicle before he has passed the car in front and can draw back into his own right hand lane. Under these conditions two equally dangerous courses are open to the driver of the passing vehicle. The driver may increase his speed and attempt to pass around the car ahead or he may slacken his speed and drop behind the car he is endeavoring to pass. In either event if the oncoming car is very close, as is often the case, a hazardous and dangerous condition presents itself and a serious accident may result.

One type of dividing line or traffic directing stripe heretofore used to restrict traffic and prevent such situations from arising, consisted of an unbroken line which extended throughout the length of the curve and for a substantial distance along the tangents at either end thereof, and which was dotted or broken for a further distance back along each tangent. The dotted or broken portion of the line warned traflic that there was a blind horizontal or vertical curve ahead and the solid line positively restricted traffic to its own right hand lane. In order to adequately protect traillc approaching the blind curve the solid stripe on each tangent had to be suiliciently long so as to restrict a driver to the right hand lane before he arrived too close to the curve. The disadvantage of a long stripe on the approach to the curve is that it imposes the same restriction on traffic moving in the opposite direction. Consequently traffic which has passed over the curve and has an unobstructed view of the tangent ahead is unnecessarily restrained in its traflic lane by the dividing line. For 'example, a driver following a car and wishing to pass it after both cars have passed over the curve finds several hundred feet of restricting stripe ahead of him on the tangent whereas it is obvious that his view is unobstructed and that he can safely cross the line into the left hand lane so as to pass the car. In such a situation, most drivers hesitate to cross the restricting solid line even though the sight line is clear for safe passing. This unnecessary restriction reduces the respect which drivers have for this type of marking and they either ignore the line entirely or in obeying it, are prevented from passing the car in front must longer than is necessary. With this type of stripe the only way to reduce this restriction and thereby speed up traffic is to shorten the length of the dividing line with the consequent loss of maximum protection for the trafiic moving in the opposite way. Any compromise in the length of this line must therefore be a compromise between traflic protection and freedom of traffic movement.

In an endeavor to eliminate these and other disadvantages, a modified type of marking has been used which permits traffic moving in one direction to move into the left hand lane, and restricts traffic moving in the opposite direction to movement in the right hand lane only. The marking consists of a continuous center line with a parallel line added to one side or the other, the idea being that traflic may cross the center line if it does not have to first cross the parallel restricting line, whereas traffic cannot cross the center line if it has to cross the restricting line before crossing the center line. This type of marking, likewise, has its disadvantages in that it requires the painting of two lines rather than a single line. Furthermore, its significance is dubious, as it is difl'icult for a driver on the curve to know which is the center line and which is the prohibiting passing line. An effort has been made to eliminate this disadvantage by coloring the two lines differently. However, this merely complicates the matter as the intent'will not be sufliciently evident to all drivers, and furthermore in dark and foggy weather it is'diflicultto distinguish colors.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a single stripe which signifies to a driver desiring to pass a slower car or truck that he has passed over the curve and has a sight line clear for a sufficient distance ahead to-permit him to cross the line and pass the cars in complete safety.

It is a further object to provide such a stripe, which indicates to a driver in the same situation "restricting traffic. type of marking comprises a .broadcenter stripe I 2"from the side. edges of which barbs M extend "at'spaced-intervals. As illustrated. on the .horizontal curveshown in Fig.'i4,' the barbs. on the way and by means of which barbs may be formed '15 so that they extend to either or both sides of the stripe in either direction and at predetermined spaced intervals as may be required by the nature of the road at any particular' point.

A still further object is to provide adevice of ZOther objects "will-be in .part obvious andin part pointed outmore in detail hereinafter.

'zThe' invention accordingly' consists in. the fearturessof construction, combination-of elements rand-arrangement of parts which :will be exemplified .in the construction hereafterset forth-and the sc'ope of the: application: of which will be i-ndicated in theappended claims.

In the. accompanying drawings: 5 Figure 1 is'a rear profile'view of .a device adaptedtoapply a stripe of I noveldesign 'to a road :surface in accordance with the invention herein;

'EigJZ is-a side. profile of the device illustrated in F-ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan-view of one-embodiment of the stripe whi'chman be applied by the device illus- -=trated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4'- illustrates a" horizontal curve section of highway marked with a stripe in accordance with the'present invention; and

Figs} 5' and 6 are elevation and plan viewsrespect ively of a vertical'curve or hill portion-of a highway properly marked in accordance with the invention.

Re-ferringto the drawings, Figs. 4 and6-';il1us- 'trat'e 'tWo applications of the highway marking system contemplated herein. As there shown, the system utilizes a novel type of highway center'line'marking for dividing horizontallytand vertically curved sections of roadway into "traffic lanes and for protecting withouti'unnecessarily In each. instance, the novel 'curvediportion C of the stripe extend in opposite *directionfrom one another. into :both' the. inner ilane'I' and the. outer lane $0,. towards, the ,direction from which traffic approachesthecurve inbthe'. respectivelanes. -".lihe'. barbs on thetangentnpo rtionsT" and T .of. the stripe; extend away" from the curved portion. C .and intothe right-hand. lanein whichtraiiic approaches, the curve. 'Thebarbs are located in the inner trafilc .laneil onlyup. to the point in that lane where .traiiiclias a clear sight line or view of the; tange nt T whichlies-ahead. ":Inlike manner, the barbs whichextend into the outer-lane .O, extend away from the curve and into the face, of traffic approaching the. curvein that lane.

Withthe curve marked in the manner. indithis character in which the above mentioned .t changes inxthe'istripe' mayzbe'lnade by: the opera- ='--tor' when: the'idevice is in operation.

.hand lane I.

tangent portion T, the only barbs-on the line pointaway' from'him into the outer lane 0, in- ;dicating that there is a straight view ahead and cated in Fig. 4 trafiic movement thereon is controlled in accordance with the rule that traflic may cross the barbed line with or trailing through the barbs, but must not cross the line facing or against the point of the barbs. For example, assuming car X in the inner lane I desired to pass the car Y ahead of him. He is prevented from passing on the tangent portion T and on the curved portion C of the road by the barbs M which point towards him from the dividing line and restrict him to travel in his own right However, when he reaches the that he may safely cross the line and trail through the barbs unless he sees a car approachiing the opposite direction. On the other hand,

traffic approaching the curve in the outer lane 0 "is-restricted only until it reaches tangent T at which point it.can cross the line and trail through .the barbs. line only restricts the :movement oftraffic where Thus it, is seen, .that .the dividing such' restriction is, necessary, and that the stripe gives maximum. freedom, of movement. and maximum protection for both directions .of trafiic travel. In addition, this type .ofmarking is advantageous in that there isno .difiiculty ineducating the :driving .public to understand and obey .thebarbed lines as .theirintentis. quickly self-evident to most drivers.

Fig. 6 illustratesthetrafiic.stripe l2 properly barbed so as toadequa-tely protect .traffic ..travelling over a hill or verticalcurved .portionof highway. vIt will be noted vthat the :barbsare again disposed so as-to confine traflicin the right-hand lane as longas, the sightilineor. v-iew'aheadisnot that of a .tangent portion ofthehighway; such as .T'. and T. Ineach. instance .the barbs. are illustrated as being spaced -.at.equal.distan.ces from. one. another. ,However, it .isobvious .that they may bespaced at greater. distances .where danger is not acute and, can be spaced, closerat very. sharp curves=or at tangent intersections, thus 'properly warning the driver even when .the

light or fog issuch that .thedriver can see ,only

- a very short distanceahead.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodimentofa device particularly adapted to paint .thebarbed stripe on the road in a quickand efficient.man

ner. With this device, the barbs may be-automatically formed so thatthey extend to either .orbothsides of the stripe in eitherdirection and at predetermined spaced, intervals -as .de-

' sired.

Referrin to Fig 1 and. 2,..the. preferred embodiment ofthe device for applying, .the barbed stripe is there illustrated as being mounted .on

. amotor truck 20 of any, approved 1construction;

the same being shown in, phantom. .The.apparatus includes generallya frame; F which.-.is,se- :curedto the truckZH-asatil. ..SuDDOrted,.on

the frame is a liquid paint supply line. 2!.through whichv paintjs forced under pressure. to; a;suit'- ,able spray. gun or: nozzle 24, whichlnozzleisof ,,.substantial width whereby .a. spray of substanr vertically downward uponthe road-bed. In order to control the width,- and design .of the-marking as 'it is applied-to the, road, ,a pair of large composite circular shields, indicated. generally by the numeral -28, is operably mounted on. opposite sides of the nozzle on a shaft 30 rotatably secured in the frame. The rim of each composite shield is, in the embodiment illustrated, in rolling contact with the road, and the common axis is directly above the nozzle 24 so that when the paint under pressure spreads out in the fan 25, it cannot go beyond the rims of the spaced shields, but adheres to the inner surfaces thereof and is carried around therewith so as to form a well defined stripe edge l3. The diameter of the shields 28 is the same as the diameter of the vehicle wheel indicated generally by the numeral 32, and thus the shields can be rotated at the same speed as the vehicle wheel.

More particularly, each composite shield 28 in. cludes an inner disc 3 secured to the rotatable shaft 30 for rotation therewith, and an outer disc 36 of the same diameter rotatably supported on the reduced ends 38 of the shaft. By arranging the shields in the manner described, it seen that the width of the marking on the highway is accurately controlled inasmuch as the shields contro1 the width of the paint sprayed from the nozzle 24, and, in order to control the design, as, for example, by adding the barbs I4,

the peripheries of the inner and outer disks are notched such as shown in Fig. 2 whereby when these notches are brought into transverse alignment with the nozzle the paint will be sprayed over a greater transverse area. In the position illustrated, the inner and outer disc of each shield are indexed relative to one another so that the like notches 42 are matched up and define a single notched opening in each of the composite shields 28 formed thereby. When so arranged,

the shields are adapted to trated in Fig. 3 on the road.

More particularly the barbs are formed as the shield rotates and the notches 42 therein permit the vertical wall of paint spray to pass therethrough and develop the desired barb pattern upon the roadbed. However, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, it is necessary to change the barbed pattern of the stripe at frequent intervals. This is accomplished by angularly adjusting the outer disc 5."? relative to the inner disc 34 so as to change the pattern of notches in the perip y of each composite shield 28. For example, the outer disc 36 of either or both shields may be angularly adjusted in a clockwise direction relative to its inner disc 3 so as to line up the notch 44 of the outer disc with the notch 42 of the inner disc. This particular indexing movement of the inner disc relative to its outer disc, likewise, lines up notch 46 of the outer disc with notch 48 of the inner disc so that diametrically oppositely disposed notches are formed in the periphery of each composite disc 28, and two barbs are formed on the stripe for every revolution of the shield instead of a single barb as is the case when the inner and outer discs are indexed as shown in the drawings.

In order to have the barbs extend from only one edge of the stripe and to have the other edge smooth, the inner and outer discs on the side of the nozzle Where the smooth edge is desired are indexed to one another so that the common periphery of the composite shield is unnotched. The other notches 49 illustrated in the discs extend in the opposite direction and function in the same manner as those which have been heretofore described. They may be indexed relative to one another so as to produce for every rotation of the disc either one or two barbs extending paint the stripe illuswill be 1 from the edge of the stripe in the opposite direction.

It is, of course, desirous to synchronously rotate the pro-indexed discs at a constant speed so as to properly space the barbs. Inasmuch as the surface of the road is often uneven, the rolling contact which the shield makes therewith is often interrupted and is not positive enough to insure proper spacing of the barbs on the road bed; Therefore it is necessary to positively drive each shield at the desired speed. It is further necessary in order that one disc may be indexed relative to the other While the device is in operation to provide independent synchronous drives for the inner and outer discs, the phases of which may be changed relative to each other while the device is in operation. For this reason the inner discs 34 are driven by a common chain and sprocket drive 5% from a drive shaft 5! rotat'ably supported in the frame, and each outer disc 36 is driven by a like chain and sprocket drive 52 from the same shaft 55. In order to provide means for changin the phase and indexing an inner disc relative to its mating outer disc, each of the drives 52 is provided with a spring clutch 54 which may be manually operated by the handle H. With this construction, the phase of each outer disc can be changed relative to the phase of its corresponding inner wheel, and, as heretofore indicated, the type and frequency of barb can thereby be adjusted while the device is moving. It will be understood that the specific type of indexing drive is merely illustrative as other suitable means may be provided for changing the number and type of notches in the disc periphery and the direction in which they extend.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described aid all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for applying a barbed stripe to a highway surface, supporting means adapted to be moved over a highway, a paint nozzle carried by said supporting means to spray a wall of paint downwardly and transversely on the roadway at right angles to the direction in which the device is moving, and a pair of circular shields rotatably mounted on said supporting mean and. located on opposite sides of said nozzle for limiting the width of the stripe painted on the roadway, said shields being provided with openings in their peripheries through which the paint passes to form barbs when the openings become aligned with said nozzle.

2. An apparatus of the character described having supporting means movable over a highway, spaced circular shields rotatably supported by said means and axially aligned and capable of rolling contact with the roadway, a spray nozzle supported by said supporting means and located between said shields and arranged to spray a wall of paint downwardly and laterally onto the roadway between the shields and beneath their axis, a notch in the periphery of one of said shields permitting paint to pass therethrough as the notch passes beneath the axis of the shield, and means associated with the notched shield and indexible relative thereto for covering the notch thereof when it is desired not to spray paint therethrough.

3. An apparatus of the character described having supporting means adapted to be moved over a highway, spaced circular shields rotatably supported by said supporting means and axially aligned and capable of rolling contact with the roadway, a spray nozzle supported by said supporting means and located between said shields and arranged to spray a wall of paint downwardly and laterally onto the roadway between the shields and beneath their axis, a notch in the periphery of one of said shields permitting paint to pass therethrough as the notch passes beneath the axis of the shield, means for positively rotating said shields, and means associated with said notched shield for covering the notch therein when it is desired not to spray paint therethrough.

4. An apparatus of the character described having a spaced pair of shields, each comprising a pair of cooperating inner and, outer discs axially aligned and capable of rolling contact with the roadway, a paint nozzle supported between said pairs of spaced shields and adapted to spray a vertical wall of paint on the roadway directly beneath the common aXis of the shields, like notches in the periphery of each pair of inner and outer discs, means for indexing an inner disc relative to its mating outer disc to thereby align like notches, and means for changing the indexing of one disc relative to the other while said discs are in rolling contact with the roadway.

5. In a device for applying a barbed stripe to a highway, supporting means adapted to be moved over a highway, a pair of spaced circular rotatable shields carried by said supporting means, means for rotating said shields, and a paint spray supported by said supporting means and located between the shields and arranged to spray a wall of paint downwardly and laterally between said shields onto the highway, said shields normally limiting the Width of the spray, and at least one of said shields being provided with a notch in the periphery thereof through which paint passes when the notch becomes aligned with the spray.

LUCIAN H. BEEBE. 

